Slashdot Mirror
Ask Slashdot: How Do I Reduce Information Leakage From My Personal Devices?
Mattcelt writes: I find that using an ad-blocking hosts file has been one of the most effective way to secure my devices against malware for the past few years. But the sheer number of constantly-shifting server DNs to block means I couldn't possibly manage such a list on my own. And finding out today that Microsoft is, once again, bollocks at privacy (no surprise there) made me think I need to add a new strategic purpose to my hosts solution — specifically, preventing my devices from 'phoning home'. Knowing that my very Operating Systems are working against me in this regard incenses me, and I want more control over who collects my data and how. Does anyone here know of a place that maintains a list of the servers to block if I don't want Google/Apple/Microsoft to receive information about my usage and habits? It likely needs to be documented so certain services can be enabled or disabled on an as-needed basis, but as a starting point, I'll gladly take a raw list for now.
Right - then you just leak information to the VPN host.
You know as well as I do that his software would be better received if he maintained a web site for it and didn't treat Slashdot as his personal advertising site. When he posts 30+ wall-of-text advertisements in certain threads then his reputation gets diminished a bit. He is, by definition, a spammer, so people can be excused if they don't want to use a piece of "security software" advertised by a spammer, regardless of who else hosts or recommends it.
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
No, it appears to be reverse-trolling aimed at APK. For one, it links to a competing HOSTS file engine.
And then the most telling, is this quote:
But the sheer number of constantly-shifting server DNs to block means I couldn't possibly manage such a list on my own.
So, root it, built it from a kit, forego the apps you really wanted, and hope you can trust these 3rd parties.
While technically correct, people generally don't wish to build their phone from a kit and have to take that level of control. Because it's a pain in the ass.
I've pretty much decided I'll use Firefox with no javascript or cookies enbaled for most of my browsing, I'll uninstall any app which is just a wrapper around content I can get from the web or which can't run in airplane mode, I'll mostly leave my wifi off, and when I used the native Google apps I just go "la la la". But for most people, that's not going to be acceptable either.
Your solution? I'd probably just stop using the device altogether ... at a certain point in one's life, endlessly fiddling with technology ceases to be fun, and just becomes a chore.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.